The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is seeking an exceptional individual to serve as the Director of The Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School.

Mission of JCC Nursery School:

The Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is a Reggio Emilia inspired progressive preschool that embraces families from all backgrounds and cultivates a connection to Jewish values and tradition. The Nursery School is inclusive of all types of learners, and celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of each individual in our community.

Teachers work collaboratively to create environments and experiences that spark wonder and creativity, build confidence and skills, allow children to explore materials, and encourage questioning minds. Families are partners in the work that we do, joining with children and teachers to celebrate a love of learning and Jewish life. We are caretakers of each other, our school community, our city, and our planet.

The Nursery School is nestled within The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, a beacon of community on the Upper West Side that creates opportunities for people to connect, grow and learn within an ever-changing Jewish landscape. Children often come to the JCC as newborns for parent-and-me classes (post-natal yoga, tummy time, breastfeeding support, etc), continue their journey through classes (music, sports, aquatics, etc), as well as beyond the nursery years (camp, after school, weekend programming, etc). The JCC plays a vital role in sustaining a vibrant Jewish community for families at all points in their journey.

About the Role and Responsibilities:

The Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School is one of the leading nursery schools in New York City and is a model for progressive Jewish early childhood education. We seek a visionary Director to advance the school's mission and serve as a community leader with a focus on building trusting relationships. The Director should embrace Jewish values and community life; a progressive approach to education; and the belief that children are strong, competent citizens. Reporting to the Chief Children + Family Officer, the Nursery School Director is a member of the MMJCCM Children + Families leadership team.

CHILDREN

• Oversee preschool for children ages 2-5, with enrollment capacity up to 180.

• Engage with children daily in the school, including welcoming them to school each morning and spending time in the classrooms.

• Learn about children's individual and family journeys in order to provide support for teachers and parents.
• Support teachers in their ongoing observation and documentation of children, in particular as it pertains to developmental milestones and elementary school readiness.
• The school is committed to an inclusive educational environment, in which children's differences, needs, and delays are celebrated and supported. Engage with the school's learning specialist to ensure all children are supported, celebrated and have their needs met.

FAMILIES

• Foster open, honest and communicative relationships with families, where they are valued as true partners.
• Provide and facilitate ongoing support in regards to a broad range of parenting topics. Comfort with one-on-one conversations with families, small groups, as well as more formal large group settings.
• Create opportunities for families to come together in community with one another.
• Work closely with Parents Association, ensuring they have support necessary from the nursery school as needed.

TEACHERS

• Supervise faculty of 30, including goal setting and evaluations.
• Provide pedagogical support to individual teachers and teaching teams, noting each teacher's strengths and areas for growth.
• Support development of emergent curriculum by spending time with teachers and children in the classroom and giving relevant feedback.
• Create and maintain ongoing opportunities for professional growth of all staff members.
• Support school leadership team; a group of 5 teachers who work collaboratively with the administrators to ideate and implement the philosophy and mission of the school.

ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT

• In partnership with the Associate Director, coordinate the admissions season. Lead school tours, review applications and make admissions decisions.
• Examine current school offerings and adjust as needed to increase school capacity.
• In partnership with Chief Children + Families Officer and Nursery School Committee (composed of lay leaders and families), establish a 5 year plan for sustained Nursery School growth.

EXMISSIONS ONGOING SCHOOL PLACEMENT

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with NYC public and private elementary schools.
• In partnership with the associate director, support families each year in their exmissions journey. Provide in-depth knowledge of the exmissions process, including ongoing and individual support to families through all stages of the process.
• Maintain strong alumni relationships and network.

COMMUNITY

• Serve as an ambassador of the Nursery School to the greater JCC community

• Partner with other JCC departments, including Development and Programming to support organizational goals
• Work closely with Chief Children and Family Officer to create pathways for Nursery School families to engage with broader community

Qualifications:

• Masters Degree and Certification in Early Childhood Education
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in an educational setting
• Minimum 3 years of classroom teaching experience
• Demonstrated fiscal management skills

Skills and Competencies:

• The ideal candidate will be a passionate and warm collaborator, excellent communicator with proven success connecting and relating to children, families, staff, and the community.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills; strong public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex situations in a professional, warm and friendly manner.
• Outstanding judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters. Demonstrates integrity and positive attitude.
• Understanding of developmental milestones, appropriate practice and assessment for children ages 0-5.
• Familiarity with the schools of Reggio Emilia and what an inspired practice could look like in New York City.
• A deep understanding of Jewish values, community life and the rhythm of the Jewish calendar.

Location and Commitments: This is a leadership position that requires flexibility and deep commitment. Work hours span some evenings and weekends. This is an in-person position, to begin the summer 2023.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $150,000-180,000 and includes a generous benefits package including medical, generous paid time off, parental leave, JCC program discounts, and free membership to state-of-the-art fitness and aquatics center at MMJCCM.

To apply, please send the following materials to Jacqueline Marks at jmarks@mmjccm.org

• Cover letter, expressing interest in this particular position
• Resume
• 3 writing samples or previous communication to constituents (ie. article, blog post, speech, letter to the community, etc)

Diversity is a core value of The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive.